Vehicle signal



v R.' MUDD VEHICLE SIGNAL Filed June 2o. 1921 u mum INVENTOR BYU? ma.

ATTORNY Y Patented July ZZ, @24v WILLIAM :a MUD-D, or EvaNsTon, WYOMING;

VEHICLE SIGNAL.

Application filed June 20, 1921. Serial No. 478,974.

To @Zlio/10m t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM R. MUDD, a citizen of the United States7 residing at Evanston, in the county of Uinta vand State of lVyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Signals, of which the following is a specication.

Myinvention relates to 1 signals, and has for lits object to 4provide/an economical signal for'road vehicles, such asr automobiles and trucks by which the operator may indicate' theA direction he Vwill drive the vehicle witho-ut p utting his hand out of the vehicle.` l r A further object isV to p'rovidevcertain parts of his signal with a lock whereby he may display a sign which will indicate that the vehicle has been stolen or is being operatedfwithout'his consent f y These objects I accomplish with the apparatusillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar letters and numerals of referenceindicate like parts throughout the several views, and as described in the specification forming a part of this application and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which I have shown a substantial embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a view of an automobile from the rear with my apparatus in place thereon and showing the sign case without any of the sign plates in sight. Figure 2 is a view from the front of an automobile with my apparatus in place thereon and with the danger sign displayed. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus with one of the direction signs displayed. Figure -L is a view in perspective with one of the sign plates displayed on which is the sign to indicate the vehicle will be driven straight ahead. Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the sign for turning to the left.

I am aware that many direction signs have been patented and some have been used whereby arms, hands, semaphores of various shapes, and other signs may be displayed to indicate what the driver of the automobile intends to do as tovturning, reducing his speed or stopping his machine, but so far as known to me none have been constructed as simple'7 with so few parts, and

which are so easily operated and by which so many distinct signs 'may be quickly displayed. Y

The present invention consists of a rectangular-ly shaped case A, having a portion of each side wall l made of transparent material, such as glass or celluloid, as at 2. On

the closed portion of one of said side walls lare attached two fastening lbrackets B, each having portions bent into curved form, as at 3, to t the wind shield frameof an automobile, and on each of said brackets B with the portion 3 of thebracket,V by which `is detachably securedr a clamp t to coactthe case A` is fastened on thevehicle, and.

in convenient position for the driver tooperate. The said case A is madeof thin ma-` terial7 preferably metal, and-is given a boX f-v formhaving water-tight joints to protect the inner mechanism.V The vertical sides, front and back, have portions Vcut out and replaced by transparent plates, such a glass or celluloid to form what I herein call the sight or transparent case7 and on the rear is detachably secured a mirror 25. On the inner face of two opposed side edges of said frame A are provided slide races 5 within which the sign plates are operated. On the upper edge of said case A is provided a dividual letters are printed or stenciled on Y one of said side walls of said case, as at 8, to aid the driver in operating the sign plates. One of the sign plates l0 is painted or colored red and has painted and stenciled thereon the word Stop to indicateY that the car will be stopped in a short time. Anotherof said plates 11 has the letter R thereon7 to indicate that the vehicle will turn to the right, and on another of said plates 12 is similarly marked L to indicate that the vehicle will turn to the left. If desired, other sign plates may be provided as shown on the platel 13 with letters or signs of vdirectiornas S, for straight ahead, or the word Slow to indicate that the vehiclewill be slowed down or its speed will be reduced. An individuial slide rod l5 is fas- .that particular tened on one edge of each sign plate, Which rods protrude through opening in the end of said case A and have Finger pieces 16 by which each rod and plate may be independently moved. For use at night I provide an electric light with a shade 17 which extends beyond the side Walls 1 to direct the light on the sign plates When they are exposed with4 in the transparent portion 2 of the case.

The operation ot my signal is as 'follows:

lilith bolts passed through the clamps eland brackets 3 the apparatus is secured on the trame of the Wind shield. rThe driver may indicate the direction in which he Will drive the vehicle by moving the desired plate to the transparent portion ot said case A. by moving the connecting rod 15 ot plate toward the left. It the rod and plate of the danger signal 10 is moved to the sightposition or behind the transparent plates, and the lock is operated through the keyhole 7 all or the sign plates will be locked against movement, and the danger signal Will be displayed until the lock is operated; this use is to prevent theft ot the vehicle. When the driver is going `t0 turn a corner toward the right, he vvill move the sign plate into the transparent compartment by taking hold of the thumb pie-ce 16 and sliding the signv having L thereon Within the guide race 5 ot :that plate, and at night the lamp in the socket 6 will be energized by electricity from the machine, a source of electricity being provided for that, purpose. The Vshade 17 is so positioned as to direct light rays on both sides o1E the signs when in the display compartment.

Having thus described my invention I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim :f-

1. A vehicle signal comprising a thin rectangularly shaped casing; a. plurality of sign, plates operable entirely Within said casing and spaced from each other by guide strips; a lock positioned centrally on said casing whereby any one ot' said sign plates may be vfastened in display position to indicate the vehiclel is being operated contrary to on said casing to direct rays of light on said sign plates when exposed to sight; a light globe mounted on said casing to be electrically illuminated; and connecting rods fastened on the respective sign. plates l and protruding through one `end ot said casing to move said sign plates as desired.

2. A direction signal for vehicles comprising a thin rectangularly shaped casing of tivo compartments one ot Which is glazed on its front vand rear sides; amirror on one side of the other compartment of said casing; ra plurality 'of thin sign plates operable Within said casing; rods secured on each of said sign plates by which they are .moved and which rods extend beyond one end of said casing; an electric light mounted on said casing; rand a shade to direct rays of light from said .light onto the glazed portions of said casing.

In testimony whereof I have y*affixed my signature.

WILLIAM R. MUDD.

the signi displayed; a light shade 

